Deconstructing, Expanding, and Reimagining the Oppressed: Black and Womanist Theological Reflections

This paper explores the role of Black and Womanist theology in unsettling inherited constructions of “the oppressed.” Rooted in African-centered and decolonial traditions, it centers the lived, embodied realities of Black women and gender-diverse persons, whose voices and experiences have frequently been marginalized or distorted within dominant theological discourses. Engaging Black Theology’s liberative vision alongside Womanist thought, the paper challenges patriarchal, heteronormative, and colonial assumptions, while reclaiming spiritual memory, communal dignity, and ethical agency. This inquiry is not abstract; it emerges from the everyday struggles, resistances, and spiritual practices of those confronting erasure and demanding justice. Through a reconfiguration of theological sources and a critical interrogation of power, the paper opens space for ethical and theological imaginaries that affirm life, confront systemic violence, and nurture collective flourishing. In dialogue with the panel’s theme, it offers reflections grounded in praxis, inviting theology to serve as a site of healing, resistance, and radical possibility.